Name That Restaurant!

Naming a restaurant has got to be even harder than picking a baby name. After all, a restaurant moniker needs to be memorable and catchy enough to roll off the tongues of cabdrivers and concierges across town. It must be Google-able, it must be Yelp-able, it must sum up the atmosphere, the neighborhood, the cuisine, the vibe. And it can’t have already been used by a restaurant elsewhere in town—or by a famous restaurant in any other city.

With all that in mind, In Praise of Sardines’ Brett Emerson is asking for help. He had a name picked out for his San Francisco bistro-to-be (Olallie), and he was pretty happy with it. But things change, and now he’s wondering if the perfect name might still be out there waiting for him. He’s asked blog readers to weigh in with their suggestions. More than that, there are prizes—free dinners at the soon-to-be-named restaurant—just for participating.

If you’ve ever had a hankering to name a restaurant devoted to “seasonal, sustainable California fare with Spanish flair,” now is your chance.

The suggestions are already rolling in, and they are creative and impressive and hard to pick a favorite from. Brett will be highlighting one finalist each day, looking at pros and cons, taking votes, and asking for feedback. Head on over with your choices. You might just end up with reservations to enjoy the cuisine at [insert winning name of restaurant here] when it opens next summer.